What to do in Insadong? — 11 what to see & top things to do in Insadong

Referring to Insadong, every visitor knows this place as a famous area with a variety of shops and restaurants. This is one of the must-visit neighborhood on your trip to Seoul. With so many attractions, you will have a lot of good memories in this place. Let’s find out with us the top 10 most interesting things that no visitor can miss when coming to Insadong. So, what to do in Insadong (Insadong what to do)? Let’s check out our top rated 11 fun things to do in Insadong (Insadong things to do) as well as what to see in Insadong as follows!

Enjoy street food (#what to do in insadong)

It can be said that everywhere you visit on your journey of discovery has extremely delectable street food that very worth a try. So is Insadong. You will find delicious food in the roadside shops and stalls in this area.

One of the dishes that attracts the most attention of tourists from all over the world is the Ggultarae (Dragon’s Beard Candy). This sweet dish is processed extremely sophisticatedly by skillful and agile hands. In feudal times, this dragon beard candy was a precious gift used to advance the king. Therefore, they are also known as “king desserts”.

To be able to have small sweets like cotton balls, the salesman needs to pull the malt sugar into small threads like silk. You will be amazed to know that a tiny sugar candy will be skillfully made from 16,000 thin threads. Inside the candy is crushed almonds, peanuts or chocolate.

More than a food, these candies are also a symbol of the sophistication and meticulousness of the Korean people. If you have time, stay for a while to admire the elaborate process of making dragon beard candy.

Besides this candy, cornbread is also an extremely attractive dish. This dish is not only unique in its taste but also in its texture. You will have in hand a cake shaped like a cone and filled with a sweet filling. Plus, don’t forget to try the hotteok and Korean dumplings too.

Tasting authentic Korean BBQ

Going to a barbecue restaurant is one of the popular choices for Korean people when they are greasy with their meals. Insadong is an area with many authentic barbecue restaurants so you can enjoy it like the locals. One of them, we would like to recommend you is Cha Iyagi restaurant at Insadong 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Did you know that Cha Iyagi restaurant has a name which literally means ‘tea story’? However, this place is famous for not selling tea but selling the best grilled meat in the area. Coming to Cha Iyagi, you will be able to sit and enjoy delectable food in a traditional hanok architectural space. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the lively and bustling atmosphere in the way popularly enjoyed by locals. Because, for Koreans, the place to eat barbecue is the place where they gathering, talking and drinking strong glasses of traditional alcoholic drinks.

Enjoy royal cuisine like a true king (#what to do in insadong)

Royal cuisine has always been known for its variety and sophistication in ingredients and processing. Few people have the opportunity to fully experience a meal like a king. However, when coming to Insadong, take advantage of the rare opportunity to enjoy the authentic royal taste. One of the most famous place is JinJinBara restaurant at 149- Tower 8 Building 2nd Floor, Jungro-gu, Cheongin-dong, Seoul.

Upon entering the restaurant’s door, visitors were warmly welcomed like kings by a host of hanbok-clad hostesses. Next is the extremely splendid space with a large waterfall flowing in the middle of the lobby.

In terms of cuisine, you will have the opportunity to experience a culinary journey from appetizers, main courses to elegant, sophisticated desserts. There are some special dishes such as nutritious stewed chicken with ginseng, fragrant grilled matsutake mushrooms, sweet and healthy abalone soup… All the experiences here will surely make you completely satisfied.

Alive Museum (#insadong what to do)

Address: 12 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 9AM–8:30PM
Phone: +82 2-2034-0600

Alive Museum is one of Insadong’s tourist attractions. This is one of the very unique museums of Korea. To be able to admire the interesting features of Alive, go to the place at: 12 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul. This museum is open from 9:00am to 8:30pm.

What’s on display at the Alive art museum is inspired by comic books and caricatures in a visually deceptive style. Each picture presents rich content with vivid 3D floating images. Rather than just looking at them like regular exhibitions, visitors can immerse themselves in the paintings to get lifelike frames.

This museum has a variety of works of art displayed on a very spacious background. Therefore, you can freely explore countless interesting things. What’s more special, these works are shown on a huge scale like the image of Marilyn Monroe or Indiana Jones. The unique features at this museum will bring you extremely fun and exciting experiences.

Explore Kyungin Museum of Fine Art (#insadong things to do)

Address: 30-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10AM–6PM/Monday: Closed

Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art is one of the oldest museums in Insadong. It has founded and developed since 1983 at 30-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul.

Inside the museum are local and international artworks. It can be said that Insadong is one of the most traditional and cultural areas of Seoul city. These traditions are reflected in the art and architecture at the Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art. Inside the museum, there are five exhibition halls.

In a year, this museum will open six different art exhibitions in a row. Therefore, you can freely explore many interesting things at every time of the year. Besides the main art exhibition, visitors are also attracted by the statues and models located outside the garden grounds of the museum. To discover all the attractions in Kyung-in, come here between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm.

When your feet are tired and your thirsty after a tour, take a break at the traditional tea shop located on the museum grounds. You will have the opportunity to enjoy refreshing herbal teas with sweet fruit ice cream. This tea shop is open from 10:00 am to 10:50 pm.

Visit the Tea Museum (#fun things to do in insadong)

Address: 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 11:30AM–8PM

Indeed Insadong is a neighborhood of museums. Besides the two museums introduced above, we also want you to visit the Tea Museum at 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Opening time: from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Actually, this place is a unique combination of a tea shop and museum. When entering this place, visitors will first be extremely interested in its architectural style. The museum is housed in a traditional Korean hanok house. Therefore, each design feature of the Tea Museum is full of traditional features from the warm wood details to the exhibits.

Here, you have the opportunity to explore many different samples of tea from countries around the world such as China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and India. In addition, we also have ceramic cups for tea enjoyment and a historical display of tea culture at this museum.

Besides simply watching, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy every best tea here. You have a wide selection of 130 types of tea from green tea, red tea to herbal tea and flower tea. Therefore, this place will be suitable for all tastes of visitors.

Enjoy tea at Shin Old Tea House (#cool things to do in insadong)

Far from noisy streets of Insadong is Shin Old Tea House. To temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets, come to this place at 164 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Opening hours of the day: from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm.

The way to Shin Old Tea house is a small path deep in the alley. This place is one of the authentic shops of style lovers enjoying the taste and flavor of tea in a peaceful space. The space of the shop is not too big, but it is very cozy. True to its name, this tea shop has a long life. The imprint of time has been imprinted on the house, wooden floors, windows… You will enjoy tea in the traditional style of local people – sitting on the floor next to a table with a low chassis. In the soft light covering the whole space, you have the opportunity to relieve your worries and fatigue.

The tea menu of the shop is very extensive, rich and diverse to meet the most demanding customers. A cup of bitter tea, acrid, sweet aftertaste will be even more delicious with a few pieces of sweets. Treat yourself to the most peaceful moments in Insadong at Shin Old Tea House.

Shop at Ssamzigil Shopping Mall

Address: 44 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10:30AM–8:30PM

Insadong is known as one of the largest shopping and dining centers in Seoul. Therefore, you have many options for shopping in this area. Among them, we want you to visit the Ssamzie-gil mall, which is right next to the Kyung-in Museum of Art. It is located right on the main road of Insadong so you can just visit the museum and then come to this place. The opening time of this place is from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm, so please arrange a reasonable time!

Ssamzie-gil is one of the shopping malls combined with outdoor shopping. Although a new member when established in 2004, this market makes visitors surprised by the harmony in spirit and traditional culture.

Here, we have over 70 shops and stalls displaying a wide variety of goods. You can have the opportunity to enjoy shopping from clothes, souvenirs, pottery, furniture, food to even traditional Korean items. This is one of the favorite places for tourists to buy souvenirs. You will find a lot of small and beautiful objects and feats made entirely from skillful human hands. These retail stalls offer customers extremely favorable prices. Be sure to bring more cash so that you can freely buy your favorite items at Ssamzie-gil.

After shopping at Ssamzie-gil, don’t forget to climb up to the 4th floor of this mall. Here, you will find Sky Garden – an open space for you to relax in the open space and fully enjoy the scenes of Insadong. Besides, don’t forget to check-in at the message area on the wall. Write the message you want to send and stick it on that wall.

Immerse yourself in history at Tapgol Park

Address: 99 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: Open 24 hours

To compare in size and area, Tapgol is just a small park compared to its young ”brothers”. This is one of the first parks in Korea that is storing priceless national treasures. This place is also the land to record the heroic historical marks of the uprising for independence on March 1, 1919.

Wongaksa Pagoda is one of the focal points that attracts the attention of all visitors when coming to Tapgol Park. This temple takes us back in time to 1467 when it was one of the most important Buddhist spiritual sites in Korea. At that time, Tapgol Park was called Temple Park. This ten-level stone temple is the only mark still remaining from the 15th century in this park. That makes it so much more important as a symbol of Korean culture.

Besides the outstanding historical features, the natural scenery and fresh air also partly create the highlight of Tapgol. Walking around the relics of a heroic time, you can also breathe in the fresh breeze and enjoy the peace here. It’s really great!

Dress up in a traditional Hanbok

One of the extremely interesting things that you should not miss when coming to Insadong is wearing a traditional costume of Hanbok. This is a proud traditional costume of the Korean people and is often worn on important national occasions. However, for tourists, photography studio shops are open all year round to serve all needs.

Invite more relatives and friends to save memorable memories. The girls and women will have the opportunity to dress up like princesses and queens in the past. Meanwhile, the men will become powerful kings or mighty soldiers. Not only wearing traditional costumes, you will also get hair dressing and makeup in a traditional style. Once you’re done, pose well for the best photos! Just imagining it is very interesting, isn’t it? Research the poses that best suit you to prepare for poses that will attract viewers.

Try taking a leisurely walk on the small alleys

If you are a person who loves adventure and discovery, we are sure that the planned journeys will not be able to satisfy you. So, right here in Insadong, try leaving behind a map or smartphone for directions and follow the call of your heart.

Insadong is one of those places in Seoul that has a lot of side streets along the busy main road. Contrary to the usual hustle and bustle, these small alleys will be quiet and empty. This is also where the locals live. On this journey, you will see a variety of their lifestyles from cats sitting in the sun on the porch, colorful strange flowers or crunchy vegetables in the sun.

Not only do you find a peaceful place, you also have the opportunity to find small tea shops or shops selling popular Makgeolli rice wine. These shops will sell simple dishes that are hard to find anywhere else. At that place, you will have a perfect experience of the daily life of local people.

The Insadong area is more than just a place to shop and eat, isn’t it! In addition to those famous things, you can also enjoy many other interesting things here. Save the suggestions which we introduced above to make your Insadong discovery journey the most enjoyable. Besides, follow our other articles for more useful travel experiences throughout the five continents. Happy travelling!

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